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There were tensions in Newland Friday as plans for a protest were put into action by family and friends of Walter Earl “Dood” Prichard, 44, who died in custody of Avery County July 10th. Pritchard died after family members said he destroyed his mobile home, cutting into the walls with a chain saw
—all under the influence of a number of drugs—drugs he admitted taking, according to family. While the SBI is investigating, the protest was organized for the park area in front of the courthouse in Newland, a group of some 20 to 25 gathered there, eventually taking their message to the business district. There were rumors that a group supporting law enforcement also planned to be there, but that never came together, with one of Pritchard’s sisters, Kim Story, telling the family’s perspective, “I just think that Dood deserves justice. It doesn’t matter who he is or what happened, he should have received medical care that night.” Friend, Jackie Turbyfill said he was no stranger to the inside of a cell, and said he thought there could have been better care, “Obviously, it led to his death. They could have took better care of him, you know, he should have been took to the hospital. And they say they watch them, put them in a cell—that don’t happen.” The SBI probe continues.